Signal.



No. 837,336. PATENTED DEC. 4, 1906.

T. R. NICHOLAS.

SIGNAL.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 10, 1906.

l/IIIIll/III Jimenter attom lmtJS THOMAS RLNIOHOLAS, OF OARTHAGE, MISSOURI.

SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

Application filed May 10, 1906. Serial No. 316,051.

To (ZN whom, it may concern:

' mechanisml Be it known that I, THOMAS R. NronoLas, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Carthage, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented-a new and-useful Improvement Signals, of which the follow-v ing is a specification.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a signal principally for use on railways which may be employed as the regular signaling system or may be in addition thereto. It is preferably so arranged that a'danger-signal may be set from a distant point at any time by an operator and may also be arranged so that certain causessuch,forinstance, as theburning or washout of a bridge will automatically set the signal.

The, signal is preferably electrically oper ated, and, as will hereinafter appear, an open or closed circuit may be employed.

The features and'advantages of my invention are hereinafter more particularly set forth in connection with the description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplification of the invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the signal apparatus proper, which I term, for convenience, a signal-stand. The figure also includes a diagram of the electrical circuit; Fig. 2, a detail of the electrical connection; Fig. 3, a modification of the trip mechanism, and Fig. 4 a detail of the torpedo-placing 1 is the signal-stand; 2, an aisle in the upper part ofthe stand; 3, a semaphore-arm borne upon the axle exterior to the stand; 4, a counterweight to actuate the semaphore and other parts, whi h may simply be a weight or may be a mounting for a night signal glass; 5, a tooth carried by the axle within the stand and serving as a detent; 6, a latch having a hook at one end engaging the a stop to limit the motion of the latch; 9, an

' arm upon the axle; 10, averticalconnectingrod within the stand; 11, a shaft near the bottom of-the stand and which may have bearings in each side thereof 12, a bell-crank borne on shaft 11, of which'one arm is ivoted to connecting-rod 10; 13, another link or horizontal connecting-rod, one end of which is pivoted to the other end of hellcrank 12; 14, a torpedo-rod reciprocable-in suitable supports 15, a pivotal connectipn thereon for the connecting-rod 13; 16, a torpedoes.

pedo-foik on the outward end of rod 14, bearing one or more torpedoes 17; 18, a door closing the outer lower end of the stand and.

which when the torpedoes are thrust forward may be thereby raised. Other mechanism may in some cases be provided in raising the door and The mechanism so far described Will preventingitscontact with the tor-'- erate as follows: If the latch-6 is operated so as to raise the hook, the tooth 5will be freed,

and the weight v4 will thereupon rotate the axle 2 in-an anticlockwise direction, bringing the semaphore into active or danger position.

The connecting-rod 10 will be thrown down and the bell-crank moved in an anticlockwise, diiection, throwing connecting-rod L3 to the. right and thrusting the torpedo-rod 14 with the torpedoes out of the stand, the door 18 being incidentally raised. The torpedoes are thus brought over the rail and in position 'to be acted upon by the wheels of a passing An interconnected visual and audible train. signal is thus of trafiic. a

To reset the parts after they have been provided, meeting all conditions put in danger position, a replaicing-handlglQ is provided, which may be directly onthe rod 10 or may be a part of a lever 20, suitably mounted in the stand and connected to the rod. Access to the rcplacing-handle is preferably had through a door 21 in the stand, which may be looked, as shown, to prevent meddling with the apparatus by an unau-- thorizedperson. I

25 is an electroniagnet of any desired style located within the stand; 26, a hammerconveniently pivoted at one end to the stand and so located that it maybe retained in raised position by the armatures of the magnets and that when released its head may strike the arm 7 of the latch 6. tooth and having the other end 7 adapted to be struck by a hammer, as later described; 8,

27 represents the electrical circuit, which is energized by asource of power 28 and suitably grounded.

29* is an exemplification of a key'or other I device by which the signal maybe arbitrarily operated. I

The mochamsinso far as described is to operate on closed circu t. So long as the circuit is cl osod the ma net, as shown, at

, treats the hann'ner and holds it inoperative.

I i o this arrangement any accidental derangement of the circuit will set the danger-signal. By means of the cut-out 29'the signal may also be set at any time by an operator from a distant point. A number of cut-outs may of course beprovided, and one or more signals may be in circuit with one or more of the cut-outs, so that the signals may be-operated in a manner which the conditions may require. It is obvious that if the electrical line crosses a bridge the line-Wire is liable to destruction the bridge is seriously injured, as by or water, (hoods) and in such a case. the circuit is broken. and the safety-sig- -nals,which mayi'n this case bepl'aced'one on each side of the bridge, are set. This arrangement-may be applied to such a railway deviceas a or swing bridge, which is designated by numeral 30. -The track may part at-the point 3 1 when the; draw israised, and, as best seen in- Fig. 2, at this point electrical connection for the line-wire is conveniently provided, consisting of contacts 2 5 82 33'. It will 'fbe obvious that when; the

v draw'yispaisd' thecircuit will be broken and thesign'al set. w I

Asstatcd, the-device may also be worked with an open circuit. In Fig. 3a proper arrangement-is shown. Herethe detent or tooth; isdesignated by 5 and is conveniently-placed: at the-endof arm 9. 6 is the latohywhich-ingthis case i's-pivoted at oneend. The parts are shown in the normal or clean track position, the line-circuit being open.

. asby-a cut-out, suchfashas beendescribed, and the-magnet. becoming energized will attractfthelatch 6; releasing the detent and wing-thesignal-to; goto'the danger position; asabove descri I 1 ,When the-closedwircuit system of operatier is employed, be observed that if for any reason the circuit has beeninterrupted and-thesignalthereby caused to move to the dangerposition any-efiortto reset the signal to safety-positionefore the cause of breaking-of the citouit has-be n removed will be inefiiectual, because-the- :ammer 26,.will still hold the catch 7 -out of engagement with the tooth 5, and the semaphore will therefore move. to the danger-position as' soon as the handle/-19 orr'ed 10 is released; "Now if the circuit has been broken by the operator mov- 5 5 ingthe-cut-out 29 orby-pressing a button, which mayttake-the place of the cut-out, the o orator will naturally return the cut-out to t e-position shown in the-drawings or will release the-button, thereby again conmleting thecircuit; ,and the hammer will be raised by this-magnet. Aimember of the crew ofthe .trainwhich hasbeenstopped by the dangen signal upon attempting to reset it will-find, that the catch is operative'snd holds the sigmi in-safetyposition' If, on the otherhand,

ceed toward the point of trouble.

To set the signal, the circuit may be closed adjacent to the track, .a door covermg the signal has been set by the destruction of a part of the line-wireas, for instance, by the burning of a bridgethe attempts to reset the signal will be futile, for the reason stated. This enables the train-crew to, dis- 7o tinguish between causes which give rise to the danger condition, and they can act ac cordingly. If the indications are that thesignal has been set by disaster on the line, such as a burned bridge,-the train can pro- It will be understood by those versed in the art without particular description how i the apparatus isplaced in'workin'g position in proper relation to the railroad-track.

I do not intend to limit myself'to' any, of

the details shown,-but contemplate any variations which may come-within the spirit of i my invention.

I claim 5 1. A signal comprisinga semaphore and a torpedo-p acing device,"connections between the two,- means constantly tending to throw the signal to danger position, a detent normally retaining the signal in safety position, an electromagnet normally energized by a closed circuit, and a weight attracted by the magnet and adapted to fall and release the detent by striking it a positive blow'when the circuit is broken, thereby permitting the 'signal to go to a'danger-position.

2. In a signal, a shaft, a semaphore thereon, a tooth thereon and a detent, a counterweight connected With the semaphore urging same to the danger position, means including .an electromagnet for positively withdrawingthe detent 'and allowing the semaphore to move to dangerposition, a reciprocable bar having means for carrying a torpedo, a linkconnected to the bar, a linkconnected to an. arm on said. shaft, and a bell-crank connecting thelinks so that the torpedo-bar is caused to move in unison with the semaphore.

3. In a signal, the combination of a si nalstand having an upright portion-and'a ori-' zontal bottom portion which has an openin adjacent to the track, a door covering sai opening, a reciprocating member'carrled in the bottom portion and having a to edocarrying member'so placed .that when in ex tended position it will place a torpedo di rectly over the adjacent rail, an oscillating shaft, in. said upper portion, a semaphore thereon, a tooth on said shaft, a detent engaging the tooth, positive means including an electromagnetor Withdrawing the detent, a counterweight for forcing the semaphore to danger position when the detent is withdrawn, and linkage intermediate the shaft and reciprocatingmember for moving said member in unison withthe shaft.

4. In a signal, the combination of e. si ale stand having an. upright portion and a ori- 'zontal bottom portion which has-an opening sai :30

1 tion, a torpedo-fork secured to the bar and.

' openin drawn, 1'

0 ening, a reciprocating'member carried in t e bottom portion an jha'vinga torpedm carrying member so placed that when-1n extended position it wiil'place artorpedo directly over the adjacent, rail, an oscillating shaft in said upper portion, a -s.e1naphore thereon, a tooth on said shaft, a'detent en.-

the tooth, positive means including an electromagnet for withdrawing the detent, a counterweight for forcing the semaphore to danger age intermediate the shaft and reciprocating member for moving said member inunison with the shaft, and a connection between said reciprocat' member and the door,'such that when said member is extended the door is raised in advance of the torpedo carried by the member so that the torpedo carried by the member will not contact with the door.

g 5. In a signal, the combination of a stand having an upright portion and a horizontalbottom portion, the latter portion having an opening adjacent to the track and covered by a door, a rook-shaft in the upper portion, a tooth thereon, a detent eng a weight arranged to strike t e detent and an electromagnet for normally holding the weight in inactive position, a bar mounted to reciprocate in guides in the bottom porone or more tor edoes carried by the fork, a bell-crank, a 1i connecting said shaft with the bell-crank and another link connecting ing the closure'to permit the necessary movethe bell-crank with said bar, and link connection between the bar and the door for the door in advance of the move? ment of the torpedo-fork, a weight connected osition when the detent is withi g the tooth,

' striker controll with the movable part for throwing the semaphore and torpedo-fork to danger position. and means for controlling the electrioaleircuit of said magnet.

"6. Int" signal, a semaphore, a torpedo carrier, the semaphore and torpedo-carrier beingnormally in safety position, and means forvmoving the semaphore and carrier to danger position cogprising an electromagnet, a thereby, and an electrical circuit connected with the magnet.

7. In a signal, a semaphore, a torpedocarrier, the semaphore and torpedo-carrier being normally in safety position, and means for moving thesemaphore and carrier to dangel-- position com rising an electromagnet, a striker controlle thereby, and an electrical circuit connected with the magnet, the mechanism o erating upon a change in the condition o the eectrical circuit to cause the striker to deliver a positive blow and cause.

v 8. In a signal, a semaphore, a detent nor-' mally holding the semaphore in safety position, means for ,moving the semaphore to danger position, means including an electromagnet for positively withdrawing tent causing the semaphore to move to dan ger position, and a torpedo-carrier connected ,to move in unison wit the semaphore.

9. In a signal, the combination of a housing adjacent to a railway-rail, a torpedo-carrier normal] within the housing, a pivoted closure for the housing, means for projecting t e carrier from the housing and into operaz gve relation to the rail, and links connecting he carrier and closure for opening and closment oi the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in the resence of two witnesses. T OMAS R. NICHOLAS.

Witnesses S. A. S'rnoKEY, Tnos. B TUTTLE.

5 the de- 

